A future Hall of Famer on the mound? Check. A Major League regular getting reps for their rivals? Check. Sellout crowd at Riders Field? Check, check, check!
A chance to see a future Hall of Famer like Justin Verlander take the mound at Riders Field was a rare opportunity. With only 273 players enshrined in Cooperstown, Verlander’s presence added a special layer to the night.
That’s exactly why I decided to head out to Frisco Saturday night. Not only could I see Verlander, but I could also catch a glimpse of Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe as he was also in Frisco on his rehab assignment for the Rangers.
Adding to the night’s flair, Rangers legend LHP Derek Holland threw out the ceremonial first pitch, amping up the crowd.
Justin Verlander rehabbed in Frisco
Astros ace Justin Verlander, a lock for Cooperstown someday, was on a rehab assignment for the Astros.
Verlander was not as bad as his stat line would suggest. He showcased a fastball that touched 97 mph from what I saw. His line: 4 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 7 H, 1 BB, 3 SO, 77/51 strikes.
Thirteenth largest crowd in RoughRiders history
The night belonged to Frisco. A record-breaking crowd of 11,622 (13th largest in RoughRiders history) roared with excitement.
Teodo throws the heat
Emiliano Teodo, a flamethrower for the RoughRiders, lived up to the hype, reaching 99 mph on the radar gun in the very first inning! Teodo struck out three batters in the first two frames, showcasing his dominance.
The RoughRiders bats came alive in the 3rd inning, exploding for 6 runs.
Here’s how it went down:
- Cody Freeman kicked things off with a single, then taking second on a wild pitch.
- Frainyer Chavez then brought Freeman home with a scorching double.
- Aaron Zavala reached on a throwing error, allowing both Chavez to score and himself to advance to second.
- Catcher Liam Hicks followed up with a single, plating Zavala for a 3-0 lead.
- After a walk to Nathaniel Lowe, and a fly out by Kellen Strahm, Abimelec Ortiz launched a clutch double, scoring Hicks and making it 4-0.
- Josh Hatcher capped off the rally with a single, driving in both Lowe and Ortiz to extend the lead to a commanding 6-0.
The Frisco dominance continued with the RoughRiders putting up two runs in the 5th.
The Hooks managed to scratch across three runs, with the most notable contribution being a two-run homer by CJ Stubbs in the 7th inning. However, the RoughRiders’ six-run outburst in the 3rd inning proved too much for them to overcome.
Aaron Zavala launched a two-run homer in the 8th, putting the exclamation point on a decisive victory. It was his first home run of the season.
The RoughRiders’ bullpen pitched 5 innings using three pitchers. Aidan Anderson (2-0, 2.57 ERA) tossed three innings, allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out three. Ricky DeVito and Steven Jennings then slammed the door, each pitching a scoreless inning to secure the win.
The Frisco RoughRiders (6-2) put on a show for their record crowd on Saturday night, blasting their way to a 10-3 victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Verlander was tagged with the loss, a footnote in a night that belonged to the RoughRiders.
This win propels them into a tie for first place in the Texas League South alongside the Midland RockHounds!
Looking Ahead
The series finale is set for today with first pitch set for 4:05 PM with RHP Nick Krauth (0-0, 14.73 ERA) taking the mound for the RoughRiders.
Can Krauth notch his first win and keep Frisco on top? He’ll face off against RHP Guilfoil (0-1, 4.50 ERA) for the Hooks.
